“What profiteth a man if he gains a world of free courts yet lacks a partner?”

Geoff Dyer’s article in last Sunday’s New York Times magazine captures perfectly the elusiveness of finding the perfect tennis foil.

This time of year, with the U.S. Open in full swing, is when I especially miss hitting with the best tennis partner I ever had. He’s a rather private fellow, so I’ll refer to him simply as my buddy Mike from George Street in case he’s reading this (which I hope is the case).

The city I live in is a hotbed for tennis. There are many dozens of courts and hundreds of players to choose from within a 15-mile radius of my home. All tennis courts are pretty much the same, but I’m beginning to realize that I may never find another tennis partner quite like Mike, who could always bring out the best in me.

Photo credit: Nadav Kander